The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-24
PERSONAL TRAITS OF CHARLEs READE.
He Had Positive Opinions, aud Felt Bound to-
Express Them.

He Had Positive Opinions, and Felt Bound to-
Express Them.
E. H. House. in August atlantic.
There was really nothing difficult of compre-
hension in Charles Reade's nature. Those whose
intercourse with HIM was closest were quick to
discern the idiosyncrasies which lay at the bot
tom of his wild flights of temper. his fierce
aversons, and his beligerent demeanor toward
all whom he conceived TO be his enemies. His
most striking characteristic was his utter ina
bility conceal his emotions. or restrain him.
self from the commission of any act TO which
these emotions prompted him. He could nos:
in fact, be brought to see the need OF
conceament or repression. He total
ly failed to understand that any feeling required
to be hidden. any thought left unspoken, or any
impulse held in check. In these respects he re-
manned froward child to the end of his days.
The censures to which he consequently exposed
himself were inevitable. though often unjust.
He was stigmatized as the embodiment of NOR
bid ard fatuous vanity. In truth, he was not
particle more vain than men of his position are
apt to. be. Regulations for modesty and humil-
ity may be conveniently earned by keeping
ones sef-esteem in careful suppression. Reade
and did not hesitate to proclaim
them. If other peoples views clashed
with his, it generally seemed de-
siTable tc him that they should be put down.
But his vanity was by no inordinate.
His idea of the rank to which he was entitled
was not materially different from that OF the lit
erary world at large He took more than com
mon pleasure in extolling those whom he recog-
nized his masters mis- peers. He never
dreamed of placing himself on level with Dick
ems. to whom ne accorded higher honors than
later authorities disposed to grant; and
while he was opposed to Thackerys processes,
which he declared not those OF the true
story teller his esteem for the author of Vanity
F. air was profound and outspoken. The writer
of these pages stood beside him, in the COM
mon room Magdaen College the
morning when Thackerays death was az
nounced. Reade deeply moved. although
there had been virtually acquaintance be-
tween the two men. Now" he exclaimed, II
shall never be able to tell him what thought OF
him Not long after, in the Garrick Cluo he
pointed out the place where Thackeray had been
accustomed to sit, of evenings. Il fancy he had
poor opinion of my work." said the younger
novelist, "but no matter half made No my
mind more than once, to go over and tell him
what felt and what all owed him. But 1t
would not have been understood. You can do
such things. in America; we can't here
worse luck I" 1t must be admitted that
he could not tolerate any comparison be-
tween himsef--much less Dickens Thaek-
eray-aud George Eliot, and that he invariably
contested he- right TO even the third or fourth
place among romance-writers; but his dislike
Was primarily owing to what he considered her
systematic violation of the laws of fiction. He
insisted that whoever had tale to tell should
tell 1t with straightforward drectness, and with
strict avoidance of didactic DEPRESSION. He
held the purely narrative faculty in such favor
that he was inclined TO overrate many who bad
no other possession to boast Of In his
estimation Wilkie Collins was without
rival weaver OF plots, ana his
voice was loud in laudation of Bulwers con-
structive ingenuity. He expressed the conyic-
ton that one or two of Miss Braddons earliest
works were thoroughly worthy TO be classed
with his own,-a declaration which ought, by
itself alone, to relieve HIM from the imputation
of overweening conceit. Moo could fairly
cuse him of seeking to exalt himself at the ex-
pense of others,-not even when he remonStrat-
ed aeains. the CALLING suggestions of George
Eliot's superiority,-but any attempt to depre-
ciate him, or to eject him from the place he had
fought for and conquered. stung him to fury.